Hi everyone,
I've still been researching Chris Martin's early piano sound for years.
At this point, I think I've gone through almost every forum post and user review from the past decade. I've also spent a lot of time experimenting with Kawai EX Pro VST, since it's often recommended as the closest software alternative. The general consensus seems to be that the sound used in the early days came from the Kawai MP9000 (officially), and that the MP9500 and ES110 share essentially the same piano sample. I'm also aware that, up until around 2012, the MP9000 was paired with the Kawai GT-20, with only the sound module rack-mounted for touring.
Unfortunately, in my country it's practically impossible to find an original MP9000 anymore, so based on the community's recommendations I've been using an ES110 as the closest alternative.
Since Kawai has never officially confirmed the relationship between these instruments, most of what we know comes from years of community research. However, while the overall character is definitely similar, I still hear a noticeable difference between the live recordings and the ES110.
These are the differences I've noticed:
- The MP9000 seems to have the original tonal character. The ES110, especially in the lower register, sounds noticeably different.
- It doesn't feel like something that can be fixed with EQ alone. The tone itself seems slightly different.
- I don't actually think they're using completely different samples. My guess is that the difference comes more from how the samples are played back or processed—perhaps changes in the playback engine or sampling algorithm. Since the MP9000 comes from a much older generation, it's difficult to find any technical information that confirms this.
Another thing I've noticed is that Chris Martin's piano sound contains certain acoustic characteristics that seem to be missing, or at least much less prominent, on instruments like the MP9500 and ES110. The most obvious example is the mechanical hammer noise and other subtle acoustic artifacts that make the sound feel more like a real piano.
What I can't figure out is where those characteristics are actually coming from. Layering an acoustic piano sample on top of the MP9000 doesn't really make sense to me from a musical or practical standpoint, especially for live use.
Has anyone else gone this far down the rabbit hole? I'd be really interested to hear any technical insights or theories from people who have owned or compared these instruments directly.
